Alter Egos

In this award-winning animation-documentary, we meet two unusual artists. Ryan Larkin was once a brilliant filmmaker who ended up on the streets in Montreal. Chris Landreth is a rising star in animation beginning to experience the kind of adulation Larkin received decades earlier.

With excerpts from both men's Oscar®-nominated works, this film delves into the tale of Larkin’s descent and the fascinating relationship that developed between the two men. It is a poignant study of artists, addiction and creativity.

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Comments

“I would have liked to have heard Ryan complete his thought about how easy it is to portray grotesque versions of reality. Unfortunately he was cut off. It is an interesting and very sensitive observation. It is something that is at the heart of many artistic works. And possibly, it is at the heart of the idea of exploitation itself.
I disagree with the comment from 'framed' who seems to be saying that getting paid a few bucks somehow cancels out being exploited. How much money is it worth to be treated or portrayed as a grotesque? Sadly, there are many in this world who can answer that question from experience.
But this question Ryan raises is profound. Highlighting and focusing on grotesquery is a facile approach to documentary, especially when the subject is such a deeply vulnerable human.
All that said, I am not 100% certain that is what Chris Landreth did in his film. I think he struggles with being patronizing and smug. I was quite moved by his film 'Ryan' as well as by this one, 'Alter Egos'. I only wish Ryan could have been allowed the space he needed to express himself about his feelings about his portrayal. It would have been very interesting I think and probably better for him.
”
— Joan_Incontro, 9 Feb 2012

“I think takes courage to expose ours faults. Not that it will redeem our past, but we can avoid further errors in the future. i dont know Ryan, Laurence or Chris. but no one is only guilty or innocent. We all make mistakes, and is very difficult to assume, especially when we hurt other people. Everyone has an interest behind our choices. i think this documentary is about that too: Making choices and be aware of them, of of their impact.Is easy to judge, but maybe this documentary brought the opportunity to Ryan on making "Spare Change". who knows what would be of Ryan without "Ryan" or "Alter Egos" or even "Walking". I mean, we make our choises alone. And I think the great thing of the NFB's documentary is that they open our mind to those profund questions, that are very contemporany to our world. Self criticism, self exposure and rethinking dynamic.”
— Felipe_Carrelli, 13 Dec 2011

“It would be interesting to know if Ryan Larkin had been paid for is parts in Ryan and this documentary. If the answer is no, then both films fall into the category of exploitative. Personally, I never cared for Chris Landreth's, Ryan, mainly because I kept getting the feeling while watching it, that it was made to speak more about Landreth belief in his own supposed genius, than Larkin's. And Landreth's line about submitting Ryan for an academy award proves it.
No wonder Larkin ended up the way he did. It seems he has weakness for welcoming people into his life who really don't care about him. ”
— framed, 8 Nov 2010